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Washington state may outlaw deepfake porn
Washington state lawmakers are weighing whether to make it illegal to share deepfake pornographic images — a use of artificial intelligence that has victimized people from high school students to Taylor Swift.Why it matters: Rapidly advancing AI technology can take a single image of someone and create fake videos or photos of them appearing to be nude or having sex. But in Washington and many other states, that's not explicitly banned.Details: A bill advancing in Washington's Legislature with bipartisan support would create a new criminal offense called "distributing fabricated intimate images."It would become a gross misdemeanor to share digitally altered...
Need to pee at a Seattle park? Good luck
If you visit one of Seattle's parks this month and have to pee, there's a good chance you'll be out of luck, as more than half of the city's park bathrooms are currently locked.What's happening: Park officials say dozens of their public restrooms can't handle cold weather, forcing the city to close them for the season — a problem Seattle doesn't expect to fully fix until 2028.Why it matters: If you've ever had to help your barely-potty-trained kid relieve themselves behind a bush — probably violating the city's law against public urination — then you know.The big picture: People experiencing...
What Seattle-area light rail stations are coming, and when
Sound Transit's light rail system is about to expand, starting with a new line slated to open between Bellevue and Redmond in late April.Why it matters: Since 2008, Seattle-area voters have approved more than $65 billion to grow the region's light rail system. But some projects are behind schedule, making it hard to track what's next. The big picture: The projects on deck are expected to expand the local light rail system from 26 miles to about 116 miles by 2041, adding dozens of stations from Everett to West Seattle to Tacoma.Here's a look at what's coming and when, according...
Seattle is a hotspot for UFO sightings
National UFO Reporting Center, U.S. Census; Map: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsPeople are more likely to report seeing a UFO in the Seattle area than in most places in the country, according to national data.By the numbers: The Seattle area had 86.5 UFO sightings per 100,000 residents between 2000 and 2023, according to data from the National UFO Reporting Center.That's compared to the national average of 34.3 sightings per 100,000 residents.Yes, but: Reports of UFOs are even more common in places with darker skies and fewer city lights.In Washington, that includes Lincoln County, Ferry County, San Juan County and Klickitat County, which...
Why adult dancers want a "strippers' bill of rights" in Washington state
Hundreds of adult dancers are urging the Washington state legislature to adopt a so-called "strippers' bill of rights," which they say would help protect them from customers and club owners alike.Why it matters: Dancers say they've been assaulted and threatened on the job without adequate security staff there to step in, all while having to pay excessive fees to strip club owners in order to perform.The big picture: Washington's proposal, if adopted, would enact some of the most wide-reaching state-level protections for adult dancers in the country, according to Strippers Are Workers, a Washington-based group of hundreds of adult performers.The...
ChatGPT and AI replacing jobs is a worry for workers, per WSU survey
About one-third of American professionals worry that artificial intelligence will make some jobs obsolete, and nearly half fear they could be "left behind" in their careers if they don't keep up, according to a recent Washington State University survey.Why it matters: The results show a need for universities and companies to provide more training on the uses of generative AI programs like ChatGPT, Debbie Compeau, interim dean of WSU's Carson College of Business, told Axios.What they're saying: "There's a lot of worry about, 'Do I have the skills to do this?'" Compeau said."What this means for us as a college...
Bill to limit lying by police scaled back in Washington Legislature
A proposal that aimed to limit police officers' ability to lie during interrogations of suspects has been dramatically scaled back in Washington's Legislature.Why it matters: Experts say that police deception — such as telling someone of nonexistent evidence against them or suggesting they'll get leniency if they confess — can elicit false confessions that lead to wrongful convictions.What's happening: A measure in the state House originally would have presumed statements to police are inadmissible if they are made during a custodial interrogation when officers use deception.Yes, but: On Monday, those provisions were stripped from the bill.Now, the proposal that's moving...
How to celebrate Lunar New Year in Seattle
We've rounded up some ways to celebrate Lunar New Year, along with other Seattle events to enliven your weekend.💭 Join Seattle author Ijeoma Oluo for a discussion about creating positive change Friday at 7:30pm.Oluo, the New York Times bestselling author of, "So You Want to Talk About Race," will explore themes from her new book, "Be A Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World — and How You Can, Too."Michele Storms, the executive director of the ACLU of Washington, will lead the discussion during this fundraiser at Town Hall Seattle.Tickets cost $10-$50; a few free youth...
Bill to cap rent increases moves ahead in Washington Legislature
Washington lawmakers are considering a bill that would limit annual rent increases to 7% for many rental properties around the state.Why it matters: Average rents in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area nearly doubled from 2010 to 2020, according to a city staff analysis of census data.In an October U.S. Census Bureau survey, more than 100,000 Washington residents reported their monthly rent had increased by $500 or more in the past year.What's happening: The proposal to limit rent increases passed out of the state House Appropriations Committee Saturday and could soon get a vote on the House floor.The annual cap on rent hikes...
9 Seattle coffee shops great for working remotely
URL on Broadway. Photo: Melissa Santos/AxiosAnyone who works from home regularly knows that a change of scenery can be welcome (if only to nudge you to put on better pants and walk outside for a minute).Here are a few of our favorite spots in Seattle to get work done that have a cooler vibe than your dining room table.Armistice Coffee The back courtyard area at Armistice. Photo: Melissa Santos/AxiosIt's good to have corners to escape to when you have a Zoom meeting or phone call to take, but don't want to annoy people.Armistice is well positioned alongside a cozy...
Washington bill would limit student isolation and restraint at public schools
Data: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Chart: Jared Whalen/AxiosStudents in Washington schools are being restrained or put in isolation thousands of times per year, state data shows — something a bill in the state Legislature aims to change.Why it matters: Restraining and isolating kids has no clear educational or therapeutic benefit, and can cause physical and psychological harm, state and federal officials say.Plus: Children with disabilities are restrained and isolated at disproportionately high rates, as are Black and multiracial students, multiple reports have found.What's happening: A proposal to restrict the use of restraint and isolation in Washington's public...
What to know about Seattle outbreak of potentially deadly fungus
An outbreak of a fungus that can turn deadly, Candida auris, was confirmed at a hospital in Seattle late last month, in the latest example of the drug-resistant fungus spreading nationwide.Why it matters: Many people with C. auris won't show symptoms, but about 5–10% develop invasive infections — and about 45% of those patients die within 30 days, local public health officials say.Here are some important things to know about C. auris, which the CDC last year said has "spread at an alarming rate" — from fewer than 500 clinical cases nationwide in 2019 to nearly 2,400 in 2022.Details: Candida...
8 Black History Month events to check out in Seattle
Seattle is recognizing Black History Month with a range of events throughout February, from exhibits to festivals to performances.🖼️ Tour Seattle's Black history at the Call to Conscience Black History Month Museum, which will be set up at the Columbia City Theater throughout February.Exhibits will explore topics such as Seattle's Black Panther Party, Jimi Hendrix, Sir Mix-a-Lot and the history of Black elected officials and firefighters in Seattle.4916 Rainier Avenue South. General admission $25, student admission $15.📖 Learn about Malcolm X during a talk by Tamara Payne, who co-wrote a detailed biography of the civil rights figure, at Town Hall...
Seattle will host 6 World Cup matches in 2026
Seattle will host six World Cup matches in 2026, including one in which the U.S. men's national team will play.Why it matters: City officials expect the 2026 World Cup will bring 400,000 to 750,000 visitors to Seattle, plus millions in tourist dollars.Latest: FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, announced the match schedule yesterday, after previously announcing that Seattle would be one of 16 host cities around the globe.Details: Seattle's Lumen Field will host four group stage matches, which are slated for June 15, June 19, June 24 and June 26. The U.S. team will play in the June 19...
Seattle has some of the worst downtown traffic in U.S., new data shows
Data: TomTom; Map: Axios VisualsSeattle may lag other cities regarding its downtown economic recovery — but new data shows it's beating most of them when it comes to time stuck in downtown traffic.What's happening: The average 6-mile trip in Seattle's city center took more than a minute longer last year compared to 2021, according to data from TomTom.That made Seattle's downtown traffic the seventh-worst among 80 U.S. cities analyzed.By the numbers: A 6-mile car trip through Seattle's downtown took 15 minutes and 17 seconds in 2023, compared to 14 minutes and 10 seconds in 2021.Data: TomTom; Note: U.S. overall includes...
Seattle restaurants struggle, while others rebound
Data: Yelp; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosWashington's restaurant industry is showing signs of growth, although Seattle restaurants are still struggling.Why it matters: Restaurants are more than places to grab a meal — they're community gathering spots, vital employers across the socioeconomic spectrum and part of the cultural fabric that makes cities unique.By the numbers: The number of new restaurant listings in the Seattle area rose 11% between 2019 and 2023, per recent Yelp data shared with Axios.In 2023, 756 restaurants were newly listed on Yelp in the Seattle area, compared to 684 in 2019.Yes but: Those numbers don't distinguish between what's happening...
Ways to kick off Lunar New Year in Seattle (plus doughnuts and a banned book concert)
Seattle has multiple Lunar New Year celebrations to check out this weekend, plus art shows, concerts and a "Lord of the Rings movie marathon.🐉 Ring in the Year of the Dragon with drop-in art activities, storytelling and dance and musical performances at the Seattle Asian Art Museum's Lunar New Year Family Festival, which runs from 10:30am to 2pm Saturday. Free for kids 14 and under; adults cost $14.99.🌙 Celebrate Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, with Seattle Center's "Tết in Seattle" event on Saturday and Sunday. The two-day festival will feature musical performances, a lion dance, an ao dai fashion...
Single women are winning real estate in Washington state
Data: LendingTree; Map: Alice Feng/AxiosSingle women own more homes than single men, both in Washington state and around the country.Why it matters: Sixty years ago, women couldn't get a credit card or a mortgage without a male co-signer. Now, the share of single female homeowners eclipses single men.Zoom in: In Washington, single women owned 11.7% of owner-occupied homes last year, compared to 9.3% for single men, per a LendingTree analysis of census data.The big picture: Single female mortgage applicants made up 18% of the market in 2023 — a share that's grown since mortgage platform Maxwell started tracking applicants' gender...
Former Seattle Storm star Breanna Stewart fronts new WNBA documentary
Two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart's on-court stardom and bold off-court union advocacy take center stage in a new documentary.Why it matters: "Shattered Glass: A WNBPA Story" spotlights the work of the WNBPA, the longest-running union for women who are professional athletes, and does so through leaders like Stewart, the union's vice president (and a longtime Seattle Storm star). Details: The documentary airs on Tubi, a free TV and movie streaming service, and highlights the union leaders' stories and what's at stake as the next collective bargaining agreement negotiation approaches in November. Of note: The union's 2020 agreement included a 53% pay...
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